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'Thai Banksy' tests boundaries with gallery show before election 'Thai Banksy' tests boundaries with gallery show before election
(about 2 hours later)
His works began appearing overnight on the streets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai five years ago: incendiary satirical depictions of the military officials who took power in Thailand in the 2014 coup. His works began appearing overnight on the streets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai five years ago, incendiary satirical depictions of the military officials who took power in Thailand in the 2014 coup.
Although the authorities would work quickly to erase all trace of the graffiti, there was no stopping the artist, who calls himself Headache Stencil and is often referred to as the Banksy of Thailand. Pictures of his works portraying the Thai prime minister as Dr Evil from Austin Powers or the deputy prime minister on the face of a Rolex have been shared millions of times on social media. The authorities worked quickly to erase all trace of the graffiti, but there was no stopping the artist, who calls himself Headache Stencil and is often referred to as the Banksy of Thailand. Pictures of his works portraying the Thai prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, as Dr Evil from Austin Powers or the deputy prime minister on the face of a Rolex have been shared millions of times on social media.
Now, in the buildup to the Thai elections on 24 March – the country’s first official poll in eight years – a new exhibition by Headache Stencil is again testing the boundaries of political expression. In the buildup to elections on 24 March, the country’s first official poll in eight years, a new Headache Stencil installation is again testing the boundaries of political expression.
The installation, titled Thailand Casino, was rejected by multiple Bangkok galleries before it was accepted by WTF. It draws on the idea that the future of Thailand and Thai democracy is nothing more than a game for the ruling elite, who keep hold of power through cheating and manipulation. Thailand Casino was rejected by various Bangkok institutions before WTF Gallery accepted it. The work draws on the idea that the future of Thailand and Thai democracy is nothing more than a game for the ruling elite, who keep hold of power through cheating and manipulation.
“At first I did not plan to provoke the government too much with this exhibition. The most important thing was to get people to engage with this election, which I think is one of the most important in my lifetime,” said Headache Stencil, who uses an alias for his own protection.“At first I did not plan to provoke the government too much with this exhibition. The most important thing was to get people to engage with this election, which I think is one of the most important in my lifetime,” said Headache Stencil, who uses an alias for his own protection.
However, recent developments changed his mind. The military government has gone after political opponents and recently disbanded a pro-democracy party, and passed a cyber-security law this month to extend already intrusive powers. Recent developments, however, have changed his mind. The military government has gone after political opponents. It recently disbanded a pro-democracy party, and passed a cyber-security law this month to extend already intrusive powers.
“How dare they?” the artist said furiously. “Now I plan to make more works that will annoy the government because the more this election goes on, the more you can see they don’t care about the people and they keep passing all these bullshit laws and over the past five years have used all our country’s money to buy weapons while people get poorer.” “How dare they?” the artist said furiously. “Now I plan to make more works that will annoy the government because the more this election goes on, the more you can see they don’t care about the people … they keep passing all these bullshit laws and over the past five years have used all our country’s money to buy weapons while people get poorer.”
Works in the show include a golden piggy bank with the face of a junta official accused of corruption, as well as stencils of casino chips, guns and the words “military fund” scrawled across a wall. Works in the show include a golden piggy bank with the face of a junta official accused of corruption, and stencils of casino chips, guns and the words “military fund” scrawled across a wall.
Political satire and any critical depiction of the military government can be severely punished under Thai law, and since 2014 there have been multiple examples of provocative art shows getting shut down or censored. Last year after images of his work went viral, Headache Stencil was visited by 12 police officers and he was forced to flee to the Thai-Cambodia border. It was only after his well-connected family intervened that he avoided being convicted under computer crimes laws. Political satire and critical depictions of the government can be severely punished under Thai law, and a number of provocative art shows have been censored or shut down since 2014. Headache Stencil was visited by 12 police officers last year and he was forced to flee to the Thai-Cambodia border after images of his work went viral. It was only after his well-connected family intervened that he avoided conviction under computer crimes laws.
'A real source of hope': social media opens Thailand's junta to criticism'A real source of hope': social media opens Thailand's junta to criticism
The more the authorities have pursued him, the more obstinate he has become. “I do just what I want to do, and if I have problems with the police or the government I will just run away again,” he said.The more the authorities have pursued him, the more obstinate he has become. “I do just what I want to do, and if I have problems with the police or the government I will just run away again,” he said.
The election is supposed to mark Thailand’s return to democracy, but few in the country are optimistic that it will make much difference.The election is supposed to mark Thailand’s return to democracy, but few in the country are optimistic that it will make much difference.
“I want to believe that the eight million first-time voters in this election can force change but I cannot bring myself to hope because this is Thailand and hope always ends in disappointment,” the artist said. “This will not be a fair election, the military will cheat, we can see them doing it already. “I want to believe that the 8 million first-time voters in this election can force change, but I cannot bring myself to hope because this is Thailand and hope always ends in disappointment,” the artist said. “This will not be a fair election. The military will cheat, we can see them doing it already.
“That’s what this exhibition is saying. That the whole game is manipulated for the military to win and for the Thai people to lose.” “That’s what this exhibition is saying, that the whole game is manipulated for the military to win and for the Thai people to lose.”
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